Improved photocatalytic activity of CdS/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for H2 evolution by strengthening the connection between CdS and RGO sheets

•CdS were synthesised in situ on graphene oxide using a simple solvothermal method.•GO in the prepared powders was photoreduced into RGO to form CdS/RGO.•CdS/RGO exhibited much higher activity than CdS mechanically loaded with GO.•The connection between CdS and RGO changes the photocatalytic activity.

CdS were synthesised in situ on graphene oxide (GO) using a simple solvothermal method. GO in the prepared powders was then photoreduced into RGO to form the CdS/GO composites. The samples were characterised by using the X-ray diffraction spectra (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorescence spectrum and Raman spectrum. The prepared CdS/RGO exhibited much higher activity for H2 evolution than CdS or CdS mechanically loaded with GO under visible light irradiation (>420 nm). The improved photocatalyst performance of CdS/RGO was attributed to enhancement of the connection between CdS and RGO sheets, which accelerates the effect of the separation of photoinduced electrons and holes by transferring the photoinduced electron to RGO sheets.